by Madonna Wilt

Created on: May 06, 2009   Last Updated: May 14, 2009

The Mayan book of creation, "Popol Vuh" echoes themes of both the Holy Bible and the epic Gilgamesh. There are some parallels in basic themes, as well as some variations, between "Popol Vuh" and the Bible. The idea of three failed creations, followed by a fourth, which was successful, varies from the Genesis creation story. Additionally, doubling, tripling and quadrupling of each character are unique to "Popol Vuh". This treatment of the Gods is similar to what is found in the tales of Gilgamesh. The Gods of Gilgamesh do, however, differ from those of the Popol Vuh, in that Gilgamesh's Gods are constantly warring amongst themselves, while the Mayan Gods of Popol Vuh work together in pairs.

A common thread that ties this Quiche creation story to the Bible is the inclusion of a tree that plays a common part in the loss of man's closeness to God. Whereas the tree in the Bible's Garden of Eden causes man to lose his communion with God and to, thus, become mortal, the tree in the story of Popol Vuh plays a part in the bringing down of the "arrogant" Seven Macaw. This portion of the "Popol Vuh" resonates the theme of the story of Babel, as well. Hunahpu and Xbalanque destroyed Seven Macaw because "they had seen evil in his self magnification" (1750). Likewise "the Bearer, Begetter took back their knowledge" and limited the sight of the people because "their deeds would become equal to ours, just because their knowledge reaches so far" (1757).

The loss of the people's ability to see beyond their small area of inhabitance can be closely related to the loss of the people's ability to communicate in the story of Babel. The people of Babel were brought low by their own arrogance, in thinking that they had become as Gods. This same idea is related, in a somewhat different context, in the story of Job, as God attempts to explain to Job why he can never know the reasons and ways of The Lord. God relates his reasoning to that of the Ostrich, who only has been given the knowledge which she needs to fulfill her purpose, and asks Job, "Declare if thou knowest all" (78). This is at the heart of the human condition. We desire to know everything, and yet, cannot. We place ourselves above other creatures and believe that we are special. We search for the answers to life, only to be confounded by the unfathomable wonder of what is.

Works Cited

"Genesis 1-3 [The Creation The Fall]." Holy Bible: King James Version. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Expanded One Volume. Ed. Maynard Mack. NY: W.W. Norton, 1997: 71-82. 52-56.

"Genesis 11 [The Origin of Languages]." Holy Bible: King James Version. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Expanded One Volume. Ed. Maynard Mack. NY: W.W. Norton, 1997: 71-82. 52-56.

Gilgamesh. Trans. Sandars, N. K. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Expanded One Volume. Ed. Maynard Mack. NY: W.W. Norton, 1997: 13-42.

"Job." Holy Bible: King James Version. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Expanded One Volume. Ed. Maynard Mack. NY: W.W. Norton, 1997: 71-82.

Tedlock, Dennis, Trans. Popol Vuh. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: Expanded One Volume. Ed. Maynard Mack. NY: W.W. Norton, 1997:1746-59.

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